Happy new year, bonne année !

The Claremont Club & Spa : hotel icon of the Golden State

As soon as it opened, in 1915, this hotel steeped with history made big headlines on the social scene in Northern California. Now part of the Groupe Accor flagship, it is located between the towns of Oakland and Berkeley, and is known as the regional destination of prestige. Iconic, it ups the ante in terms of services, implementations and lodgings for its 276 rooms which combine contemporary comfort with the charm of the Old World. This romantic château-style domain, built at the time of the « Gold Rush », is also famous for sheltering a tennis club, a Spa and the Limewood Bar & Restaurant of executive chef Arwi Odense. The soft Californian climate makes it a destination for all seasons. www.fairmont.com/claremont-berkeley

Covered with white wood, the hotel facades are typical of American architecture at the beginning of the past century. © DR

Castello della Castelluccia : Rome, off-the-beaten track

North of the Tibre, Roman hospitality is the second nature of this medieval fortress. So if the city of Rome, this huge open-sky museum, sprinkled on 7 hills, its monuments, its vestiges and its palaces hold no secret for you, opt for its surroundings by staying in the limit of the Italian capital. At only 750 meters of a golf club, it welcomes many VIPs, starting with the Popes, right next door. Time has not erased the mystery of the former Muti estate, a noble family, which left behind period furniture and rare objects in the rooms and the restaurant, specialized in regional gastronomy. A nice present to treat yourself to in order to recharge your batteries before tackling 2020… www.lacastelluccia.com

The tower of Castello della Castelluccia stands up in a peaceful landscape, surrounded by greenery and hills. © DR

Jardins d'Etretat : poetic elegance in Normandy

Amongst the new touristic attractions in Normandy, Les Jardins d'Etretat achieve unanimity. This ambitious cultural and environmental project is handled masterfully by landscape architect Alexander Grivkoun. On the white chalk cliffs of Amont, facing the famous arch and the needle, dear to Arsène Lupin, hero of the successful adventure novels by Maurice Leblanc, he transformed Villa Roxelane by creating a poetic « Land Art ». Life size, the permanent exhibition comprises imposing futuristic vegetal sculptures, as well as Surrealistic paintings of greenery that extend towards the sea to surprise its visitors. Be sure to chose your day well to admire this outdoor museum—it's always better under the sun… etretatgarden.fr

This 100 % vegetal museum is installed facing a world-renown panorama. © DR

Highclere Castle : the castle of Downton Abbey

After the major hit of the TV series, Downton Abbey, the castle of « neo-Jacobian » style, in the British country of Berkshire, remains at the center of the news since the film was released. And it's for this occasion that the Belmond British Pullman train announced an immersive experience at the heart of Highclere Castle. The doors of the 19th century estate will be opened for its passengers, on the 18th of March and the 23rd of September 2020, to enjoy a visit of the main reception rooms, the Gothic dining room with walls upholstered with Cordovan leather and Italian tapestries, and the huge library, in the presence of the Count and Countess of Carnavon who reside there. It's a fascinating venue to be discovered at the end of your voyage. www.highclerecastle.co.uk

Of ochre color, the castle's facades, spiked with turrets, were the location for several shootings, both for the cinema and television. © DR

The Silversea Silver Spirit : the art of cruises

Great luxury has invited itself onboard the Silver Spirit. A floating palace, where nothing is beautiful enough to make the eyes of exacting passengers shine, it offers 5 star cruises. In the Caribbean, in Asia, off the heavenly islands of the Mediterranean, the North seas, the flagship of the Silversea fleet welcomes 600 cruise-goers in all inclusive, including a mini bar filled with French champagnes. No standard room on board, there are only 70 m² suites with balcony, dressing room, marble bathroom, numerous pillows, Etro bathrobes, WIFI Premium, films on demand and private majordomo. Casino, spectacles, pool, jacuzzi, fitness, Spa, tennis, golf—all the amenities are personalized, and gourmets will be delighted. www.silversea.com

Equipped with a silent mode of navigation, the Silver Spirit offers the great advantage of a very calm atmosphere on board. © DR